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A new study has found that school cellphone restrictions significantly reduce student phone use during the school day, but show mixed results when it comes to improving academic performance, attendance, and student well-being. The research, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, examined schools using Yondr pouches, which require students to lock their phones in magnetically sealed bags throughout the day. Researchers analyzed data from more than 40,000 schools over seven years, comparing schools using the system with similar schools that did not. The study found that cellphone usage on school grounds declined sharply after the policy was introduced, with GPS-based measurements showing a 30% reduction by the third year. Teacher reports also indicated a major drop in classroom phone use for personal reasons, falling from 61% of students to 13%. However, the broader educational and mental health benefits often cited by supporters of cellphone bans were less clear. Researchers found that overall effects on test scores were “close to zero,” although high schools showed modest improvements in math performance while middle schools experienced slight negative effects.

 

Fox 35 Orlando

NBC Miami

U.S. News

Florida Students Benefit from Free State Reading Program  

Florida students enrolled in New Worlds Reading are seeing promising literacy gains, according to state assessments. The free program delivers high-quality books and literacy resources to students who need extra reading support, with enrolled students scoring up to 15% higher on their state tests than their eligible, not enrolled peers last spring. With books and resources delivered directly to students’ homes and no additional lift for educators, New Worlds Reading helps districts extend instruction beyond the classroom, strengthen at-home reading practice, and improve literacy outcomes.

Explore how New Worlds can support your district’s literacy goals.

 

The Trump administration is withholding more than $2bn in congressionally approved education funding through the federal budget apportionment process, raising concerns about delays, disrupted grant competitions, and potential cuts to dozens of K-12 and higher education programs. According to publicly available budget documents reviewed by Education Week, the Office of Management and Budget has yet to release most or all fiscal 2026 funding for 35 Education Department grant programs, including support for teacher training, education research, community schools, magnet schools, arts education, and Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native education initiatives. Many of the affected programs are ones the Trump administration has repeatedly proposed eliminating or consolidating into broader state block grants. In some cases, only small portions of funding have been released for administrative expenses, while other programs still show zero allocated funding despite Congress approving the money in February. Advocates and grant recipients warned that prolonged delays could force organizations to pause programs, reduce services, or lay off staff if competitions for new grants are not launched soon. Some programs have begun accepting applications, offering limited reassurance, though uncertainty remains over whether funds will ultimately be distributed. The administration has argued that apportionment is necessary to ensure spending aligns with presidential priorities and federal law, while critics say the process is being used to sidestep Congress and effectively freeze legally approved spending. Legal experts noted that previous administrations routinely released education funding shortly after budgets were passed, making the current delays highly unusual.

 

Education Week News

Florida’s new congressional map, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, now faces a second legal challenge. Equal Ground Education Fund and 18 Florida voters filed the first suit, followed by a separate Leon County Circuit Court lawsuit from Common Cause, the League of Women Voters of Florida, and the League of United Latin American Citizens. The lawsuits argue DeSantis and lawmakers violated Florida’s constitutional ban on maps drawn to favor a political party. The latest filing calls the plan “illegal” and seeks a temporary injunction requiring the previous districts to be used in 2026. The challenge also says the map was designed to strengthen Republican congressional advantages while splitting Democratic-heavy areas.

 

Osceola News-Gazette

Ormond Beach Observer

A new study from Delaware offers early evidence that high school career pathways programs may help increase college enrollment and workplace readiness, although many students ultimately pursue careers outside the fields they studied in high school. Career pathways programs, which combine academic coursework with job-focused training and workplace experiences, have become a major part of education reform efforts nationwide. Delaware, considered a national leader in the movement, launched its statewide initiative in 2014, and roughly 70% of the state’s high school students now participate. Researchers at RTI International tracked more than 6,000 graduates who completed at least two courses in a career field. The study found that about three-quarters enrolled in college or another postsecondary training program after graduation, exceeding the national average of 63%. However, fewer than half continued studying or working in the same field they pursued in high school. Students in construction-related pathways, for example, frequently shifted into science, engineering, business, or healthcare majors after graduation.

 

Governing

The Collier County School Board unanimously approved a teacher salary package for the 2025-26 school year, concluding an eight-month labor dispute with the Collier County Education Association (CCEA). Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli's recommendations included a $1,350 base pay increase for all teachers, with an additional $880 for those rated highly effective. The total cost of these increases is approximately $8.2m. CCEA President Ken Mouton countered the board's claims, asserting that the board's actions have united the union's membership. The conflict highlights broader issues of teacher pay in Florida, where the state ranks last in average teacher salaries. Looking ahead, union leaders are considering a voter referendum for additional funding and preparing for the next bargaining cycle in June.

 

Naplesnews

News-Press.com

The Palm Beach County School Board has approved a 3.5% raise for teachers, siding with the teacher's union against a smaller increase proposed by Superintendent Mike Burke. The decision, made during a 6-1 vote at an impasse hearing, came after Burke rejected the magistrate's recommendation for the raise. "The School Board sides with the teacher's union for a 3.5% teacher raise," noted the report. This outcome marks a significant victory for educators in the district.

 

Sun Sentinel

Broward County teachers and school employees stand to gain significantly if voters approve a property tax renewal in November. The Broward School Board dedicated over five hours to discussions before deciding that 90% of the referendum's potential revenue would be allocated for employee compensation, with the remaining 10% earmarked for safety measures.

 

Sun Sentinel

The Alachua County School Board has voted 3-2 to maintain Irby Elementary as a pre-K-2 school while transitioning Mebane Middle School to serve grades three through eight. This decision addresses student displacement due to the planned closure of Alachua Elementary School, expected by fall 2028. Despite previous considerations for expanding Irby to a pre-K-4 or pre-K-5, board members expressed concerns about the campus's capacity and safety issues.

 

The Gainesville Sun

Take Stock in Children of Monroe County will honor 69 graduating seniors at its Graduation Celebration on May 16 at Marathon High School. The event recognizes the students' achievements, including a collective award of $2m in Florida Prepaid tuition and dormitory scholarships. Notably, 40% of the graduates will attend a Florida college, while 60% will enroll in one of the 12 Florida universities. The class has an impressive average GPA of 3.71, with students completing 243 Advanced Placement courses and earning 372 dual enrollment credits. The program supports students facing economic barriers, providing mentorship and scholarships for those who maintain strong academic performance.

 

Keys News

The 2026 Lee County Student Film and Television Awards celebrated the creativity of students from 24 schools at South Fort Myers High School. Supported by a grant from Suncoast Credit Union, the event showcased over 150 entries across 13 categories for elementary, middle, and high school divisions. Tortuga Preserve Elementary won Best in Show for its news show, while Cypress Lake Middle School's music video "Kung Fu Fighting" and Dunbar High School's PSA "Digital Danger Protocol" also received top honors. Gateway High School earned the Lee Schools TV Choice Award for "Clue-Less." 

 

WINK News

School districts across the U.S. are increasingly prioritizing cybersecurity, data privacy, and AI governance as generative artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in education, according to CoSN’s 2026 State of EdTech report. The report, based on responses from 607 K-12 leaders across 44 states, found that school systems are moving beyond early AI experimentation and focusing more heavily on risk management, policy development, and long-term operational oversight. Cybersecurity and privacy concerns have returned as the top priorities for education technology leaders after AI briefly overtook them in last year’s SETDA survey. About 75% of respondents said they were “very concerned” about AI-enabled cyberattacks, while 65% cited insufficient budgets as the biggest barrier to cybersecurity preparedness. Another 52% pointed to staffing and training shortages as major challenges. At the same time, AI adoption continues to expand rapidly. Nearly 88% of districts said they already have AI initiatives underway, and 79% reported having formal AI guidelines in place, up sharply from 57% in 2025. Confidence in AI’s educational value remains strong, with 96% of respondents saying the technology could positively benefit education through areas such as productivity, personalized learning, tutoring, and workforce readiness. The report also found districts are increasingly using procurement policies to manage AI risks, with 56% requiring vendors to provide product safety information before adoption. However, CoSN noted that fewer districts require broader quality measures such as accessibility, interoperability, evidence-based design, or usability standards.

 

Govenrment Technology

Flagler Schools has been rapidly adapting its AI education policies to keep pace with the fast-evolving technology. Ryan Deising, the district's chief of technology and innovation, noted, “Our policy wasn't in place for three months, and already we were in violation of our own policy.” The district has developed infrastructure to train teachers and ensure students learn essential AI literacy skills. Teresa Phillips, the instructional technology coordinator, emphasized the importance of these skills, stating, “It's important that our students get those AI literacy skills to be ready for the future.” Students in grades 6-12 utilize AI tools like Google Gemini and Khan Academy's Khanmigo for personalized learning. However, opinions on AI's role in education are mixed, with some students expressing concerns about its impact on creativity. School Board member Janie Ruddy suggested that AI literacy should become a diploma plus program, highlighting the need for students to embrace AI's benefits.

 

Ormond Beach Observer

At Somerset Academy Dade, a transformative program led by Adriana Vega, founder of Vida Art Academy, is revolutionizing Spanish language education. By integrating visual arts, music, and performance, students are experiencing Spanish as a living language rather than just words in a book. “We went beyond what we usually see. We went deeper into where this language we've been learning actually comes from,” said fifth-grader Ashley Reyes. The initiative, supported by the Spanish Consulate, aims to connect students with Spain's culture and history, making learning joyful and engaging. The program's highlight includes a children's version of Don Quijote de la Mancha, which sparked curiosity and creativity among students. Vega hopes to expand this innovative approach to more schools next year, demonstrating that blending language with culture can create a rich learning experience.

 

NBC Miami

In Lee County, the Lee County Sheriff's Office reported over 25,000 illegal passes of stopped school buses since the school year began. The School District of Lee County revealed that BusPatrol safety cameras recorded 25,454 stop-arm violations through April, all confirmed by the LCSO.

 

WINK News

WINK News

Florida State University (FSU) is introducing a binding Early Decision option for in-state undergraduate applicants for the summer and fall 2027 terms, making it the first public university in Florida to do so. This initiative aims to provide a clear pathway for students who consider FSU their "unequivocal first choice," according to Hege Ferguson, FSU's Assistant Vice President for Undergraduate Admissions. Applications will open on August 1, and students admitted through Early Decision must withdraw other applications and submit their enrollment deposit by January 15, 2027. While this option is designed to streamline the admissions process, it does not guarantee easier admission, as all applications will undergo the same evaluation. The Early Decision plan aligns FSU with a national trend, as more universities adopt similar options.

 

Tallahassee.com

South Korea is reconsidering the role of Chinese characters, known as Hanja, in education as officials and teachers raise concerns about declining student literacy and growing difficulties understanding vocabulary derived from classical Chinese. The National Education Commission said it may review measures to strengthen Hanja education, including the possible addition of Chinese character annotations in textbooks. The proposal has revived a long-running and politically sensitive debate over how much Hanja should be taught in schools. Education officials said the discussions are part of broader efforts to improve reading, writing, and vocabulary skills, after surveys showed widespread concern among teachers about deteriorating literacy levels. A 2024 survey by the Korean Federation of Teachers’ Associations found that 92% of teachers believed student literacy had declined, while two in 10 students reportedly struggled to understand textbooks without significant assistance. Supporters of stronger Hanja education argue that it is necessary because more than half of Korean vocabulary is derived from Chinese characters. Teachers and professors cited multiple examples of students misunderstanding common Sino-Korean words because they did not recognize the underlying meanings of the characters.

 

China Daily